CO2 Flux along an Intermittent Stream in SE Idaho
Faculty Mentor Information
Rebecca Hale and Sarah Godsey
Presentation Date
7-2017
Abstract
CO2 is a greenhouse gas that has been increasing in concentration in the atmosphere, and rivers and streams have been identified as sources of carbon dioxide. However, little is known about CO2 fluxes from intermittent rivers and streams, which have channels that cease to flow at one point or another and make up around one half of the global river network length. The objective of this project is to measure CO2 fluxes from an intermittent stream network in SE Idaho to assess the relationship between CO2 flux and air and stream temperature, dissolved organic carbon concentration and stream flow, including the dry stream sections. CO2 fluxes were measured every 200 meters in the stream network (100 points total), once in early summer and again in the later months of summer to capture changes with the stream drying. Preliminary CO2 fluxes ranged from 0.01 to 4.6 g/m2 hr, with an average flux of 0.63 g/m2 hr. The CO2 fluxes measured will increase the understanding of the role that intermittent streams play in global CO2 emissions.
CO2 Flux along an Intermittent Stream in SE Idaho
CO2 is a greenhouse gas that has been increasing in concentration in the atmosphere, and rivers and streams have been identified as sources of carbon dioxide. However, little is known about CO2 fluxes from intermittent rivers and streams, which have channels that cease to flow at one point or another and make up around one half of the global river network length. The objective of this project is to measure CO2 fluxes from an intermittent stream network in SE Idaho to assess the relationship between CO2 flux and air and stream temperature, dissolved organic carbon concentration and stream flow, including the dry stream sections. CO2 fluxes were measured every 200 meters in the stream network (100 points total), once in early summer and again in the later months of summer to capture changes with the stream drying. Preliminary CO2 fluxes ranged from 0.01 to 4.6 g/m2 hr, with an average flux of 0.63 g/m2 hr. The CO2 fluxes measured will increase the understanding of the role that intermittent streams play in global CO2 emissions.